Omaha daily bee., 1887-11-21
Some Telegraph History.

of this assertion is becoming every day
more plain"
Some Telegraph History.
Electrical Rcrieir.
The history OF some OF the additions
of water to Western Union Telegraph
company stock reads like the widest
romance OF speculation. In 1860, for
xample, congress offered bonus OF
$4,000 year for ten years to any par
ties who would undertake the construc-
tion OF n telegraph line from the Mis-
souri, river to the Pacific coast. Certain
directors of the Western Union company
accepted this offer, and 1,lO0 miles OF
wire were strung between Brownsville,
Neb., and Salt Lake City, where con-
nection was made with an existing
line to San Francisco, The cost OF
this LOO miles of telegraph line
was $147.0O0, or $134 a mile, and large
profits were made by the contractors at
this figure. Subsequently 81 600 600 in
stock of the Pacific Telegraph company
was issued on this expenditure, and
when that company was absorbed by the
Western Union So 900 900 of stock of the
latter company was issued in payment
for the Pacific Telegraph stock. Soon
afterward the stock of the Western
Oulou WAS bTODlcu, uHu Ulluo ny d
process of manipulation an original eX-
penditure of STAT 7,00O-of itself an ex-
orbitant outlay-was swollen until it
came to represent $6, 900 600 Of Western
Union stock, to pay dividends upon
which the business of the country has
been taxed for nearly a quarter OF
century. More than this, the property
thus represented had within ten years
been nearly thrice paid for by the gov
ernment bonus of $4,000 year.
j. Lawrence Sullivan's Reception.
Chicago Tribune: 1t has often been
remarked that when an 1rishman gets
fair chance of ASSOCIATION with people,
however much they may be opposed to
him, he inevitably exercises fascinat-
ing influence upon them. This has been
exemplitied in England lately. Since the
discussion OF home rule some OF the
Irish orators, notably Parnell, have had
an opportunity to get through the crust
of isolation with which Englishmen
surround themselves, and in no instance
have they failed to captivate their hear
ers or charm the society with which
they have been brought in contact. Our
eminent Irish fellow-citizen, Prof. J. L.
Sullivan, is another instance OF this
trait. In fact, Parnell on the hustings,
anu oulllN uu VII tllo OuStllhSS5 dIC SuI-
rying everything before them. Prof.
Sullivan was not unknown to the Eng
lish muscle men before he went over,
but he had not made that enthusiastic
impression upon them which has since
resulted from personal association with
him. No man, not even the Duke of
Wellington returned from Waterloo, or
Disraeli from Berlin bringing 'peace
with honor" ever had such a reception
as that accorded to the eminent Boston
Knockout when he arrived at the Brit
ish Capital. Even the police could not
control the Britishers at the depot, and
the Irishman was obliged to avoid their
multitudinous affection by a ruse. His
reception at ST. James Hall, Piccadilly,
though it took two sovereigns ($l0.50)
and swallOw-tail to get in, was equally
enthusiastic. This was the artistic re-
ception, and it did not fall behind the
more democratic one in the streets and
at the station. When the Irish-Ameri-
can champion came forward and an
| nounced to the ladies and gentlemen
that he had come to England to show
what sort Of timber he was made of and
remained 'yours truly" the great and
elegant audience was captivated and
expressed its delight with round upon
round Of applause; but it was not until
hO StthAO ouo III hlo AE hVAis5 Vtiih 1Iiu GU
countered the big boxer who consents
| to be knocked about by the champion
for the delectation of the crowd that
the rapture of the British nobility be-
came unbounded. And when it was all
over he entered his carriage and was
driven to q club house with the aris-
tocracy following and shouting itself
| hoarse. No other show in London stood
| any chance-not even Buffalo Bills
| Wild West. The lord mayors pageant
| fell dead and flat Even Salisbury's
| tory speech was made to empty benches.
| Much of this enthusiasm may be credited
to the English love of pugilism, but
more to the rare facinations which an
Irishman exercises over Englishmen;
and when that 1rishman happens to be,
or is prepared to show that he is, the
"best man" from the knock down point
OF view in the new or old world, it is
not remarkable that he should captivate
both the English aristocracy and dem
Ocracy. Should he succeed in carrying
away the honors from the Briton, Jem
Smith, no limit can be placed to the ex-
tent of his cOnquests among the British.
1t will then be veni, vidi, vici.
/ T1,n